The new $40 million Kroger Marketplace store under construction on Mall Boulevard is tentatively scheduled to open in April 2014, the company announced Tuesday.

Work started on the 123,678-square-foot store in late July. When finished, it will be the first Kroger Marketplace in Savannah and the company says it will feature a number of upscale elements, including, a drive-thru pharmacy, fuel center, Fred Meyer Jewelry, Little Clinic, Starbucks, Murray’s Cheese and Chef on the Run.

Long-time Kroger employee and Savannah native David Pelfrey will be the store manager. Pelfrey began his career with Kroger in 1984 at Savannah’s first Kroger Sav-On Store, which will be replaced by the new Kroger Marketplace.

“I am excited to bring my knowledge and experience back to the Savannah area,” he said. “The new Kroger Marketplace will bring a number of enhanced amenities to our loyal customers, and I am proud to be a part of this project.”

The store is expected to bring about 250 new jobs to the community. Available positions include cashiers, courtesy clerks, deli, grocery, apparel, drug/general manager, Starbucks and fuel center employees.

Interested residents should apply online at www.kroger.com/careers. Click on “Store Jobs” and select the Kroger store located on 318 Mall Blvd. Interviews will begin this month and continue until the store opens, the company said.

ABOUT KROGER

Kroger’s Atlanta Division, with eleven stores in the Savannah area, is headquartered in Atlanta and has more than 210 stores covering, Georgia, Eastern Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina. The company focuses its charitable efforts on hunger relief, K-12 education, women’s health initiatives and local organizations in the communities it serves.